Automatic wick threading machine



May 5, 1931. A. SGRITTA AUTOMATIC WICK THREADING MACHINE Filed Oct. 11, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l May 5, 1931. A. SGRITTA 7 AUTOMATIC WICK THREADING MACHINE Fiied Oct. 11, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 0/ my 17 ,140 Ill May 5, 1931. A. SGRITTA 1,393,871

AUTOMATIC WICK THREADING MACHINE Filed Oct. 11, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 5, 1931 PATENT OFFIQ ALFONSO SGRITIA, O1 BROOKLYN, NEW YORK AUTOMATIC WICK THREADING MACHINE Application filed October 11, 1928.

This invention relates to candle making machinery and has particular reference to a device for threading wicks into candles or similar articles.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described having improved means to properly and accurately center the candles for efiicient and expeditious threading thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type set forth having improved means for feeding candles and automatically passing the wick thereinto, and severing and clinching the wick.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the nature specified having comparatively few and simple parts and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, compact and rugged in construc- 20 tion, and reliable and efficient in use to a high degree.

A. further object of the invention is. to provide an improved candle or similar article having novel coordinatlon with the 95 device for improved operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

lVith the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated on the annexed drawings, wherein like parts are dsignated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the mach ne.

Fig. 4.- is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the table of the machine and associated mechanism.

shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical section taken on line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a view in vertical section taken on line 77 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the parts erial No. 311,766.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the automatic, motor switch.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the machine looking at the left of Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 1010 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line l1l1 of Fig. 1, with certain parts removed.

Figs. 12 and 13 are enlarged vertical sectional views taken on lines 12-12 and 13-- 13 respectively of Fig. 11.

Fig. 1a is a bottom view of the hammer head.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention.

Generally described, the invention provides a machine having a substantially circular plate or table that is rotatable about a vertical axis. The plate has a series of perforated dies or forms disposed on the upper surface thereof in proximity to its edge. The ties are so shaped as to conform accurately to the upper surface of the articles or candles to be threaded to properly center the same automatically, when the candles are placed in inverted position on the dies.

As the feed table rotates, each of the dies is successively brought with its perforation into registry with a wick supplying device that moves a predetermined length of wick into the candle. By this invention, the candles used have countersinks to guide the wick thereinto. At the bases of the candles as used herein are secured wick clips, accurately centered, through which the wick readily passes. A hammer serves to strike the prongs in the clips to clinch the projecting end of the wick and to flatten down the vent-ion has been shown as designed partie said end on the clip. The correct length of wick is supplied to each candle by means of a pair of automatically operated rollers. In this invention, while the table turns, the hammer moves upward. Then the table comes to a stop, while the feedin rolls begin to thread the wick into a candle, the hammer in the meantime moving slowly downward. Vi hen the hammer strikes, as aforesaid, a knife beneath the rotating table cuts the wick leaving enough to project at the top of the candle in the usual manner. A. unitary drive mechanism operates all parts of toe machine. The table is turner by a simplified pawl and ratchet arrangement, which. requires very little power. The said arrangement is also adjustable to permit the perrorations in the dies to aline with the wick feeding means. The rollers are adjustable as to the length of wick fed, and can be released at will. The hammer includes a novel feature that prevents cutting of the projecting flattened portion of the wick. Means is provided to automatically receive the finished candles d discharge the same into a suitable receptacle. Should the wick become tangled a switch opens and throws the motor out of circuit. A simple pedal device permits the machine to be momentarily disconnected by opening a clutch. The drive includes a pair oi alined shafts compactly coacting to drive the various machine parts.

It will be appreciated that while the inularly for use in the manufacture of nig. :3 -11 tlt 't' "b od cant es, 1a 1 1S capame or sin mt ...-eu for many other purposes, the candle being conceived of as any member having an opening, and the wick as a member inserted into said opening.

This invention 15 1ntended particularly for use in conjunction with mv auto: 51.. night candle molding machine as um u and described in my application :1 t l verial No. 30:3,196 filed Angus Referring in detail to the drawing 15 denotes a device embodying the invention. The same includes a frame having a base member 16, upon which the co ner standards 1'? to 20 and which are inte connected in pairs by means of horizontal flanges 21. Supported on the latter is a table plate 22 which is substanti lly fiat throughout, except for an edge or rim flange The table plate is secured to the flanges by bolts 2%.

Mounted on the base member 16 is motor which is connected into air-electri al circuit by a lead 26. The latter connects with an automatically 0 aerated switch 2? mounted on a bracket 28. The purpose of this switch is to break the motor circuit it the tion of the switch will be hereinafter described. A main switch 29 is provided whereby the operator may start or stop the machine, the switch 29 being connected by a lead 30 in series with the automatic switch 27. A main lead 31 supplies current to the switch 29.

Driven by the motor 25 is a pinion 35, the teeth of which mesh with those of a gear wheel 86, which is mounted on a counter shaft 37 that is journaled in a bearing 38. Secured to the countersha'l t is a sprocket :wheel 39 which is interconnected by a chain 40 with a speed reduction sprocket wheel 4-1.

The latter is freely rotatable on a horizontal shaft 42 which is journaled in a bearing 48 that is disposed in relative proximity to the table plate 22.

Operatively connecting the shaft 42 with the sprocket-wheel ll is a clutch 45 which isnormally in locked position. Said clutch includes a sleeve 46 which is keyed to the shaft at l'l. Formed in said sleeve in a direction parallel to the axis thereof is a recess d8, which is closed at one end by a stop member ll). Slidingly mounted on said recess is a bolt 50, an end of which is adapted to engage the sprocket wheel l1 in one of the four slots 51 therein. Normally urging the boltout of locking engagement is an expansion coil spring 52, that is positioned in a lengthwise extending recess in the bolt. One end of the recess 53 is closed to engage the said spring and the other end of the recess is open to receive a projection or finger 54 of a collar 55 that is secured to the sleeve 46 by a set screw '56. To move the bolt into locking engagement a ring member 57 is mounted on the sleeve 46 for sliding movement in an axial direction, said ring member having an annular inclined cam tace'58. The latter is adapted to be engaged by a member 60 that is moveable in a vertical plane toward and from the axis thereof. The member 60constitutes the end portion of an arm ()1 that is pivotally mounted at 62. Operating the arm 61 is a lever that is pivotally mounted at one end at 66, and has-its other end formed to constitute a pedal 67; (lonnecting the lever and the arm is a rigid link 68, which movably engages the same at 69 and 70 respectively. tension coil spring 71 tends to raise the lever and to move the arm (31 into the dotted line position to throw the bolt 50 into lockingcoaction. Should it be desired to momentarily stop the machine, it is merely necessary to depress the pedal (37 permitting the spring to retract the bolt. If the machine is to be stopped for a longer period, a pin 72 is inserted into a proper opening therein through a bracket 73, which serves also to limit the downward movement of the lever 65. A smooth operation of the machine lee may be effected by a flywheel 7 1 which may also act as a pulley.

In alined relation with the shaft 1-2 is a shaft 75 that is journaled in a bearing 76.

' 7'7 and 78 which are interconnected by an offset shaft 79, forming a crank for a purpose hereinafter descrlbed. Accorchngly the shafts 42 and 75 rotate 1n unison. At the other end of the shaft 75 is secured a disk 80, which carries a channel member 81 having a slot 82 in the web 83 thereof. Engaging in the slot 82 is a pin 84 of a pitman 85. The latter eccentrically engages a gear 86 to turn the same. The said gear is mounted at a side of the machine on a stub shaft- 8'], which is journaled in a bearing 88. Meshing with the teeth of the gear 86 are the teeth of a rack bar 90, which is carried by a bracket 91 for movement in a plane extending from the front to the rear of the machine. T h said rack is carried for sliding movement by channel bar 92, within the hollow of which the rack is secured by screws 93. The arms of the channel bar are slidingly received in guide recesses 94 of the bracket 91. Retaining the channel bar in the recesses 9d are a plurality of yokes 95, which are fastened to the bracket 91 by screws 96. To regulate the downward pressure on the bar 93, set screws 97 are threaded through the webs of the said yokes to bear on the said bar.

It is thus clearly apparent that the gear 87 is given a to and fro rotation. by the pitman 85, thus causing a reciprocatory movement of the rack 90, and the channel bar 92.

Mounted on the channel bar 92 is a pawl 98 having a vertical pivot 99, and actuated in a countercloclnvise direction by a leaf spring 100 on the bar 92.

A movable candle 'd table ported on the plate 2 or rotation about a vertical axis. The sail plate is provided at a rear-center thereof with a disk 102 resting on the upper side of the plate and secured thereto by a central screw 103 and enacting tapered pins 10%. Forn ed along the periphery of said disk 102 is a recess 105 that constitutes a bearing for the feed table 101. The latter is retained therein by a circular bottom flange 106 of a main upstanding bracket 10?. The said flange seats in a circular recess 108 in the upper side of the feed table, and is engaged with the bearing disk 102 by screws 109.

The feed table 101 constitutes in effect a ratchet wheel, the teeth 110 of which engageable by the pawl 98. Accordingly fe 101 is sup- 2 the reciprocation of the rack 90 causes a step by step rotation of the feed table.

Brake means for the feed table are provided on opposite sides of the center thereof. Each of said means comprises a horizontal. bar 116 carrying at its outer end a roller 117, while near the inner end thereof is tension member in the nature of a bolt 118, and at the inner end referred to is a bearing screw 119, whereby the downward pressure of the roller 11= can be regulated.

To properly carry the candles, the feed table 101 is provided with means 120 for carrying the candles in inverted position, s being found most eflicient for accurately centering the candles. According to my nding application for patent, the night ice are molded with their upper ends marked angular ornamental conforma- By this invention, the means 120 includes dies 1 1 whose upper surfaces accurately conform to the upper ends of the candles, whereby the latter are correctly centond for the wick threading operation. Each die is set into a recess 122 in the feed able, and is central y perforated at 123 to permit the wick to pass therethrough and into the candle. The feed table has a slightly larger opening 124 alining with 123. Since centers of the dies 121 lie along a circle whose center coincides with the aide of the feed table, the rotation of the latter causes a uniform angular feed of the candles positioned on the dies.

The wick 1.25 is supplied from a reel 126 that is centrally positioned in the frame of tlge machine and beneath the shafts 22 and I which is journaled in the side portions of the machine frame, and to which it is Socured by a set screw 128. At one end of the saaft 127 is a wheel 129 with which coacts a brake 130 that urgei'l into onga nen't with the wheel by a spring 131, anus serving to prevent the reel from over- .To guide the wick into a die 1 1 m i r. rem cal tube alined therewith is provided at the front of the machine and in the cen tral plane thereof, the upper end 136 of which is tapered, and the adjacent portion threaded at 137 into a plate 138. The said plate supported by a belt 189, the upper end or which is screw-er. into an oblong plate 1 10. The same is set into the recesses 1 11 that are provided along the side edges of a .ot 142 in the top plate 22 of the machine .me. While the plate extends to the *ont of the machine, its rear edge 1 14 is in aaced relation to the end 145 of the said slot providing an open space 146 for a purpose hereinafter set forth. Securing the plate 140 in flxed position are screws 1 17. After leaving the tube 135, the wick is passed through an alined guide consisting Said reel is mounted on a shaft 127' iii of helical wire coil 148, which is supported at its lower end by a laterally projecting portion 149 that is received in a hole 150 in a stud 151 mounted on the plate 140, a set screw 152 serving to clamp the portion 149. The upper end of the spring 1 18 may bear against a die member 153 that is set into the plate 1410, and has a hole 15a to permit the wick to move upward into a candle carrying die 121.

To feed the wick, a plurality of wheels 160, and 161 are provided. These wheels make tangent contact so as to be adapted to grip the wick therebetween. The space that may be observed in Fig. 7 between the tube and coil guide 185 and 148 provides a wick portion that is adapted to be gripped by the wheels, the tapered portion of the tube guide extending into close proximity to the point of tangency of the wheels. The wheel 160 is mounted on shaft 162, the sis of which is stationary. The said shaft is journaled for rotation in a plurality of spaced arms 163 and 1635:, that extend downward from the plate 140, and is also journaled in a bracket 16% extending from the upper portion 22 of the machine frame. For compactness, the arms 163 and 163m may be set into an opening 165 in the frame portion referred to. Between the said arms is received the wheel 160. Into the shaft 162 is fixed a pin 168, and the arm 1630, is recessed at the bearing at 170 to permit the passage of said pin, while the wheel 160 has a keyway 171 to receive the said pin. A collar 172 fixed on end of the shaft 162 serves to prevent endwise movement of said shaft.

The wheels 160 and 161 are provided with rubber rings 160a along their peripheries to properly grip the wick without removing therefrom the wax that stiifens the same, and rotation of the wheel 160 as hereinafter described will thus cause a corresponding rotationrof the idler wheel 161.

To rotate the wheel 160 periodically and to the proper predetermined extent for the required amount of wick to be fed to a candle, a wheel 17 5 is journaled for free rotation on the shaft 162. Disposed in proximity to the wheel 175 is a ratchet wheel 176, that is pinned to the shaft at 177. A. plurality of pawls 173 are mounted on the independently movable wheel 175, these pawls being retained in engagement with the ratchet wheel by leaf springs 17%1 mounted on the said wheel 17 5. Thus a two and fro rotation of the wheel 175 causes a periodic rotation of the ratchet wheel and hence of he shaft- 162, with a periodic feed of wick to the candles.

To cause the oscillatory rotational movement of the wheel 175, a channel guide 178 is engaged with the same. The said channel guide is formed with a slot 179 in the web thereof, in which slot the shaft 162 is adapted to be received. A screw 180 serves to fixedly secure the guide 178 to the wheel 175. A washer 181 may be placed between the guide 178 and the bracket 164.

Coacting with the guide 178 is a pitman 182, the head of which is formed with a wrist pin 183 that is movably engaged in the slot 179. The pitman also connects with an arm 18% of an annular cam follower 185. The latter includes a plurality of members 186, 187 which are interconnected by bolts 188. The internal surface ofthe follower channel shaped to receive a cam 189 that is secured to the shaft 12.

By adjusting the position of the pin 183 in the slot 179, the length of wick that is fed to a candle can be regulated. To prevent the wheel 160 from overrunning, a fric-' tion brake 190 coacts therewith.

The wheel 161 is mounted on shaft 191 that takes through brackets 192 secured to the plate 140. These brackets are formed with slots 193 in which the shaft 191 is journaled. Pins 19% in the brackets, actuated by individual leaf springs 195, tend to move the shaft 191 to cause the wheels to snugly grip the wick. To release the wick in the event of trouble, plates 196 at the sides of the wheel 161engaging the shaft 191, are movable in unison by a bar 197. The latter is of L-form, the shorter arm 198 thereof engaging the members 196 in holes therein, while the longer arm is slidingly retained by guides 199. For convenient release of the wheel 161, the bar 197 extends to the front of the machine where it is pinned at 200 to a lever 201 that is pivotally mounted at 202. Thus, on moving the lever 201 toward the machine, the wheel 161 is released;

Should the wick be tangled or knotted as it leaves the reel, as shown at 205, the switch 27 functions, as aforesaid, to throw the motor 25 out of circuit. For this purpose the said switch includes a pair of spaced contact elements 206 and 207 mounted in a casing 208. A switch member 209 has pivotal. connection with the element 207 and sliding contact engagement with the other element. For operating the switch member, an arm 210 is secured thereto, and extends out of the casing through an open end thereof. The arm terminates in a centrally slotted portion 211, and the wick passes through the slot. Since the slot is just wide enough to receive the wick, a knot 205 will not pass therethrough, but will throw the switch arm upward with the movement of the wick, causing the switch to open.

After the requisite length of wick has been supplied to the candle, the wick is severed, leaving a sufficient length thereof projecting from the candle to permit the same to be easily lit. This length of wick is determined by the space between the upper faces of the dies 121 and 153. Coacting with the latter is a knife 212 that is movable alon the top surface of the die 153 to cut the wick at the opening 121 in the die. The said knife is secured to an actuator 213 by means of screws 212a. A clamping plate 214 takes over the actuator to hold the knife down, and is fastened to the plate 1 .0 by screws 215. The said actuator is slidable in a recess 216 in the plate 1&0. To afford the requisite clearance for the plate 214 and the heads of screws 215, the under do of the rotatable feed table 101 is formed with a series of concentric annular recesses 217 and 218. At its inner end the actuator is bent downwardly at 219 and 220 for clearance. Normally retracting the knife 212 is a tension coil spring 25 one end of which is con nected to a fixed pin and the other to the said actuator by means of a hook 227.

To project the knife to cut the wick, the actuator 213 has mounted thereon a roller 228 which cooperates with a cam 229 that is driven by the shaft 75. As shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the disk 77 on the shaft 75, carries a segment 230. The latter has arcuate slot-s 231 formed therein, permitting it to be adjustably secured by screws 232 to the disk 77. The cam 229 may be formed integrally with the segment 230. To provide a large cam surface, a block 233 may be pinned to the integral cam portion referred to. It will thus be clear that rotation of the shaft causes a periodic cutting movement of the knife 212.

To permit the knife to be easily removed whenever necessary, the feed table 101 may be formed with a slot 35 extending therethrough, which slot may be brought into registry with the knife by rotation of the table.

Since the candles used herein have had the wick clips previously secured thereto, a hammer 237 may be readily brought into operation after the wick has been threaded through the candle. The said hammer is mounted on a vertically reciprocating bar 238 which is guided in an arm 239 of the bracket 107. To reciprocate said bar, a lever is pivotally mounted on the bracket at 241, said lever being at its other end formed with a curved portion 212 that is received in slot bearing in the said bar. A. horizontal plate 2% is movably guided along said slot, to adjust the clearance for the member 242, by means of a set screw 245. Engaging the lever2i0 at 246 is a connecting rod 247 which extends downward through a slot 218 in the circular flange 106, the bearing disk 102, and the plate 22 of the machine frame. The lower end of the connecting rod 24 is secured to a bearing 2&8 disposed between the disks 77 and 78, and journaled on the shaft 7 9. Ro-

adjusted according to candles of varying.

lengths the shank 250 of the han mer has threaded engagement with an arm 251 of the bar To retain the hammer in adjusted position, a locknut 252 may be used.

The hammer 237 includes an improved 1 head 255 which is mounted on the shank 250 by a set screw 256. The said head has a bottom face which is of inverted conoidal form, and includes a plurality of radial recesses 257 which increase in depth and width from the center to the periphery thereof. ,"Jhen the hammer descends, the prongs in the wick clip are flattened to clinch the wick, and. the projecting end of the latter is caused to lie in one of the recesses 257, so that the wick is not severed by the impact with the hammer.

To automatically remove the finished candles from the feed table 101, an inclined chute 260 is provided that is secured to the machine frame by an arm 261. To guide the candles into the chute, the latter is provided with a guide 262 that is disposed over the feed table 101 and is fastened to bracket 107. The guide 262 engages the candles one by one as the table rotates, and shifts the candles into the chute. From the chute the candles pass into any suitable receptacle.

The operation of the machine may be briefly summarized as follows:

The operator places the candles in inverted vertical position on the dies 121, and as the shafts 12 and 75 rotate in unison, the latter through the pitman 8% causes a to and fro rotation of the gear 86 and thus reciprocates the rack bar 90, causing the feed table 101 to rotate step by step. This brings the candles successively to the wick threading means, and the latter begin to operate while the rack bar and the table actuating pawl 98 move idly backward. Thus, while the table is stationary, the pitman 182 moves the wheel 175 carrying the pawls 173 to turn the ratchet wheel 176 through a predetermined angle, to rotate the wheels 160 and 161 to feed the wick upward through the candle. Thereafter the cam 229 on shaft 75 causes the knife to sever the wick, while connecting rod 24:7 operated by cam 189 on the I shaft 42 brings the hammer 237 down to cause the wick clip to clinch the wick. On further rotation of the table 101 the completed candle is discharged down the chute 260.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described for threading a wick into a night candle having an ornamental upper surface, said device including a member having an opening and a similar surface to accurately center the candle in alinement with said opening in inverted, upright position of the candle without contacting the sides of the candle, and means to feed a wick through said opening and into said candle.

2. A machine of the character described, including means to support a candle, means to thread a wick into the candle, means to sever the wick, means to actuate the machine, and other means operated by aknot in the wick to cause the actuating means to stop.

3. A machine of the character described, including means to support a candle, means to thread a wick into the same, means to sever the wick, means to cause a clip on the candle to clinch the wick therein, drive means for the machine, and other means motivated by a knot in the wick to cause the drive means to stop. a

:1. A machine of the character described, including a table rotatable about a vertical axis, said table being adapted to support a plurality of candles thereon, means to thread a wick into the candles, means to sever the wick, a hammer to cause a clip on an end of the candle to grip the Wick therein, the rotation of the table bringing the candles in succession to the wick threading means, and a chute means coacting with the table, said candles impinging a portion of the chute means and being discharged down the same due to the aforesaid rotation of the table.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

' ALFONSO SGRITTA. 

